Indiana State Fair Concert Stage Collapses, Killing Five [VIDEO]

Thousands of people were gathered at an outdoor stage at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday night when high winds from a storm caused the stage rigging to collapse, killing five and injuring at least 40 others, multiple outlets report.
The incident occurred at about 9 p.m., just before country band Sugarland was scheduled to perform. The crowd was already being directed to a nearby building because of the impending storm when the rigging toppled over.

YouTube users uploaded several videos of the stage collapse, including a horrifying video showing the stage wobbling and finally falling under the pressure of the wind as audience members screamed.

“It was like it was in slow motion. You couldn’t believe it was actually happening,” witness Amy Weathers told the Indianapolis Star.

Emily Davis, another concert attendee, told WTHR, “It was horrible, people were running and going crazy.”

The Indianapolis Star reported injured people were moved to a tunnel beneath the stage while a hole was dug to access those trapped beneath the wreckage.

There were close to 100 audience members gathered near the stage when it collapsed. Whether the fair acted swiftly enough in evacuating concertgoers from the stage site will be the focus of an investigation by state officials in the days to come. Meanwhile, Indiana State Police said it is very possible the death toll will continue to climb.

None of the members of Sugarland were injured. “We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you’ll join us. They need your strength,” they tweeted.

According to reports, uninjured concertgoers rushed to the scene immediately after the collapse, lifting beams and pulling the injured from wreckage. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels held a press conference Saturday praising their courage.

“That’s the character that we associate with our state,” Daniels said.